Chaos, by Jamie Shaw

Shame Scale: Low shame. It’s well written with characters that feel like real people, and more plot than parts that will make you blush.

Fantasy Cast: Kit Harrington, Lily Collins

What does he taste like?: A young whiskey

Book Description:

From the moment she saw Shawn Scarlett perform at a school talent show, Kit Larson has loved two things: the guitar, and the gorgeous, green-eyed boy who inspired her to play. But one careless night in high school shatters her hope of ever being more than a notch in his bedpost.

Six years, two bands, and one mostly mended heart later, Kit’s about to make her rock star dreams a reality as the new guitarist for Shawn’s band, The Last Ones to Know. He may not remember their reckless night together, but Kit has never forgotten…and she’s determined to make him eat his heart out.

The release of their new album means a month cooped up on a tour bus, sleeping inches away from the ridiculously sexy musician she’s never quite gotten over. And as Kit gets to know the real Shawn—not Shawn Scarlett, the rock god, the player—their attraction becomes too hot to resist. But the past is paved with secrets, and when they finally surface, Kit could lose everything: the band, the music, her dreams…and Shawn.

This is book three in the Mayhem series, and if you are into rock star romances, I definitely recommend checking these ones out. Each book is a stand alone, focusing on one of the band members, but you’re probably better off reading them in order. In Chaos, the story focuses on Shawn Scarlett – the guitarist, and Kit Larson – the backup guitarist hired in Riot.

Kit went to school with all of the guys in The Last Ones to Know, but she was a few years younger than them. She saw Shawn play at a school talent show in middle school, and he inspired her to learn to play the guitar. And he inspired her first big crush, the kind of crush you have when you’re in your teens that just consumes you. Obviously, he doesn’t know she exists.

After graduation, when the boys’ band is starting to blow up and they are about to move away and go on tour, Kit, who is just a 15 year old freshman, convinces her brother to take her to a graduation party so she can tell Shawn that he changed her life. She just needs to, ok? She circles around Shawn at the party for awhile, till she can get up the nerve to sit next to him. He’s polite in that, “Oh hey cute girl!” way, but when she confesses that she took up playing the guitar because of him, his teen ego is turned on. They kiss, and then pretty much immediately, Shawn is like, come with me upstairs to this bedroom. They don’t waste any time by talking about things like, hey, Kit’s name? Or the fact that she’s a virgin? And you know, 15? Shawn just blindly soldiers on, and takes her virginity without even noticing that she’s in some discomfort. Afterwards he takes her phone number, but Kit’s brother is all, “LOL dude. What are you doing hanging out with my 15 year old sister?” so Shawn never calls, and Kit is heartbroken.

They don’t see each other till several years later, when Kit is auditioning to be the replacement back-up guitarist for The Last Ones To Know. She kills it, but Shawn is acting funny, like maybe he recognizes her, but isn’t sure where he knows her from. Kit is certain he’s forgotten her, and doesn’t want to bring it up, so she just pretends like this is their first meeting.

And Kit? I pretty much love her. She’s a “cool girl” rockstar, in a way that’s totally genuine and not at all obnoxious.

“And you’re here to audition?” the blonde asks.

I pull my guitar case from where it’s propped against the wall and give them a big smile. “I hope so. It is okay that I’m a girl, right?”

“Yeah,” the blonde rushes to say, but Dee still has her eyes narrowed with skepticism.

Having been the only girl in an all-guy band in college, I’m used to it, so I’m not surprised when she says, “That depends… Are you a girl who can play the guitar?”

“I think so,” I deadpan. “I mean, it’s difficult since my vagina is constantly getting in the way, but I’ve learned to manage it just like any other handicap.” I pause for dramatic effect, my expression somber when I add, “Sadly, I don’t get special parking.”

Kit hasn’t grown out of her crush, and Shawn seems game for her as well, but she does her best to keep him at arm’s reach, because she’s certain that if she falls in love with him, there’s no way her heart won’t end up broken. But Kit’s not the shy girl from high school in awe of the band guy. She’s grown into her self, and she’s confident, and my god do I love confident heroines.

Because I’m not that same pathetic girl who thought her name wasn’t worth telling. I’m Kit Fucking Larson. I’m a goddamn fucking rock star.

When the band goes on tour (is there anything that sounds better than being trapped on a tour bus with your lifetime crush?), things get heated. Super heated. Like making out, ass grabbing, and grinding. When they finally get together though, there’s still tons of unspoken history between the two, and eventually all the emotions come to a big dramatic head. It was sweet, it was hot, and I genuinely like all the characters in this series a ton. So if you’re looking for a new series to check out this summer, this one does not disappoint.